When the Indianapolis Colts selected safety Malik Hooker in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, they were likely expecting to pick up his fifth-year option down the road.
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Of course, nothing is set in stone. Even the Colts knew it wouldn’t be a guarantee Hooker would get a second contract with the team. But even then it was a bit surprising that he didn’t see his fifth-year option picked up for the 2021 season.
The talent is there, and it’s apparent on film, but defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus wants to see more consistency from the Ohio State product.
“What he does and what everybody else does has to do is just be more consistent. If you are going to be a high-performing player, an All-Pro player or a high-performing starter, the consistency just has to be there,” Eberflus said last week. “So that’s what we are asking all of our players to be – practice consistently and play consistently, and that is what we are going to get.”
Hooker hasn’t lived up to the hype of a first-round pick. He’s certainly flashed the talent that made him a coveted talent in the draft, but his production simply hasn’t met the standard of his draft capital.
That isn’t to say Hooker has been bad. He’s been a solid split-zone safety and has flashed what he can do when making plays on the ball. But he also might be limited somewhat due to the Colts’ scheme, which features heavy looks with two-high safeties.
“I would say that if you watched Malik last year – when I watched him in practice because we have only had him for two years, I really saw a step in terms of his practice. In training camp I could see it, early on in the season I could see it,” Eberflus said. “Your play in the games doesn’t fall far from the practice. So that is what we are searching for is consistency in all of our players.”
The Colts also drafted Julian Blackmon in the third round and even though he won’t be able to make an impact until October, it has many wondering about the future for Hooker in Indy.
One way he can secure that future, though, is by meeting the consistency standards the Colts have put before him.
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